What is the ruling on being optimistic about certain types of birds, and what is the ruling on some girls drawing lots on numbered papers to determine their share of a certain guardianship?

Good words and beautiful sights fall under the category of good omens (al-fa'l al-hasan) that a Muslim finds encouraging and optimistic, just as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to do. Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen defined it as: "Everything that energizes a person towards something praiseworthy, whether it be a spoken word, or a visible or audible action."

A condition for a good omen is that it should not be sought out intentionally. If it is sought intentionally, it is no longer good; rather, it becomes a form of ṭiyarah (superstitious belief in omens).

As for the actions of some girls who seek to know the unseen and the future, this is forbidden and falls under the category of istiqsam bi al-azlam (seeking to know the future by divination arrows). This is because drawing lots (qur'ah) from which omens are taken or by which knowledge of the unseen is sought is prohibited.